Study: Dark Chocolate May Lower Heart Disease and Stroke Risks
Rating
Study: Dark Chocolate May Lower Heart Disease and Stroke Risks
Our Review Summary
We remind journalists and consumers that you should always read our commentary rather than simply glancing at the grade or star score given a story – because this is an example of a story that addressed most of our criteria yet – in our opinion – failed readers.
The opening line is unacceptable in our view:
“Should people at high risk of heart attack and stroke eat dark chocolate every day?
Maybe, according to a new study from Australia.”
Later, one independent expert calls it “wonderful news” while another says it over-assumes benefits, is based on intermediate risk factors and ignores dangers.
Which is it?
Journalism should help readers hone their critical thinking and help them weigh the evidence.
The beginning and ending of this story was more like cheerleading.
Why This Matters
We fear that this is the kind of story that leaves the American public numb to the kind of research news that they should care about. That’s why this matters.
Criteria
Satisfactory
The study included a cost-effectiveness analysis and the story reported on it. Unfortunately, it didn’t offer any critical analysis of that cost-effectiveness projection.
Satisfactory
On the one hand, the story dutifully reported what the researchers reported about projected benefits.
But on the other hand, the input of the Harvard nutritionist/epidemiologist raised important questions about over-assumption of benefits, and relying on intermediate risk factors (not actual heart disease events like heart attacks).
So we’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Not Satisfactory
The story quoted the Harvard expert:
“The researchers are ignoring some downsides, he says. “They are ignoring the dangers of too many calories and too much fat and sugar from the chocolate bar,” he says.”
But somewhere in this review, we must criticize the story for never offering any detailed analysis of the researcher’s “model.” We could do it in the Evidence criterion, but we’ll choose to do it here.
Surprisingly the model used by these researchers did not account for the adverse effects (weight gain, etc) that might accrue from adding a daily 100 g chocolate bar, which might contain as much as 600 calories (!), to your diet for 10 years. Since the entire underpinning of the story was the validity of the model, this is a weakness in the story.
Satisfactory
Caveats were raised by both researchers quoted who were not part of the study:
- One questioning over-assumption of benefits and reliance on intermediate risk factors
- The other saying “It’s all theoretical based on statistics.”
Satisfactory
No disease-mongering of heart attack and stroke.
Satisfactory
The Harvard nutritionist/epidemiologist provided vital perspectives.
Satisfactory
At least the story quoted the Harvard expert:
Those at risk of heart attack and stroke should first focus on lifestyle, Ding says. That includes weight loss if needed, exercising regularly, and not smoking.
Not Applicable
The availability of dark chocolate is not in question.
Satisfactory
The story explained that the study was an evaluation of “studies already published” and that the researcher believed “theirs is the first study to model the long-term effects of eating dark chocolate in reducing cardiovascular risk.”
Satisfactory
It’s clear that the story did not rely solely on a news release.
Total Score: 8 of 9 Satisfactory
Comments (1)
Please note, comments are no longer published through this website. All previously made comments are still archived and available for viewing through select posts.
Ileana Balcu
June 1, 2012 at 12:58 pmGreat points! Thank you! Oh, no, not another piece of news about how chocolate is healthy! Maybe add another criteria: Was this horse beaten to death yet? ;)
Our Comments Policy
But before leaving a comment, please review these notes about our policy.
You are responsible for any comments you leave on this site.
This site is primarily a forum for discussion about the quality (or lack thereof) in journalism or other media messages (advertising, marketing, public relations, medical journals, etc.) It is not intended to be a forum for definitive discussions about medicine or science.
We will delete comments that include personal attacks, unfounded allegations, unverified claims, product pitches, profanity or any from anyone who does not list a full name and a functioning email address. We will also end any thread of repetitive comments. We don”t give medical advice so we won”t respond to questions asking for it.
We don”t have sufficient staffing to contact each commenter who left such a message. If you have a question about why your comment was edited or removed, you can email us at feedback@healthnewsreview.org.
There has been a recent burst of attention to troubles with many comments left on science and science news/communication websites. Read “Online science comments: trolls, trash and treasure.”
The authors of the Retraction Watch comments policy urge commenters:
We”re also concerned about anonymous comments. We ask that all commenters leave their full name and provide an actual email address in case we feel we need to contact them. We may delete any comment left by someone who does not leave their name and a legitimate email address.
And, as noted, product pitches of any sort – pushing treatments, tests, products, procedures, physicians, medical centers, books, websites – are likely to be deleted. We don”t accept advertising on this site and are not going to give it away free.
The ability to leave comments expires after a certain period of time. So you may find that you’re unable to leave a comment on an article that is more than a few months old.
You might also like